Yarn feeding and storage device for textile producing machine

ABSTRACT

There is disclosed a device for feeding yarn from a supply thereof to a textile producing machine. A storage drum is provided about which there orbits yarn winding means whereby the yarn is wound onto the drum tangentially for subsequent axial withdrawal on its way to the textile producing machine with a minimum of tension. A feeler biased against the drum detects the presence of a predetermined minimum quantity of yarn wound onto the drum after which it controls, through time delay means, additional winding for a predetermined time period. There are disclosed a number of different forms of winding means including the use of a rotatably mounted disk and rotatably mounted annular member, each of which carries the storage drum which is prevented from having significant rotation.

United States Patent [191 Tellerman et al.

[ June 5,1973

[54] YARN FEEDING AND STORAGE DEVICE FOR TEXTILE PRODUCING MACHINE verne, NY.

[7 3] Assignee: Wesco Industries Corporation,

Plainview, N.Y.

[22] Filed: Apr. 23, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 136,939

[52] U.S. Cl. ..242'/47.01, 242/47.l2, 242/49 [51] Int. Cl. ..B65h 51/20 [58] Field of Search ..,......242/36, 37, 39, 47,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,843,688 7/1958 Masem ..242/57 X 3,225,446 12/1965 Sarfati et al. ..242/47.12 3,411,548 11/1968 Pfarrwaller ..242/47.l2

Primary Examiner-Werner H. Schroeder Attorney-Henry R. Lerner [57] ABSTRACT There is disclosed a device for feeding yarn from a supply thereof to a textile producing machine. A storage drum is provided about which there orbits yarn winding means whereby the yarn is wound onto the drum tangentially for subsequent axial withdrawal on its way to the textile producing machine with a minimum of tension. A feeler biased against the drum detects the presence of a predetermined minimum quantity of yarn wound onto the drum after which it controls, through time delay means, additional winding for a predetermined time period. There are disclosed a number of different forms of winding means including the use of a rotatably mounted disk and rotatably mounted annular member, each of which carries the storage drum which is prevented from having significant rotation.

24 Claims, 18 Drawing Figures PAIENTEDJU" 5W 3.737. 112

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YARN FEEDING AND STORAGE DEVICE FOR TEXTILE PRODUCING MACHINE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to yarn storage and feeding devices used in association with textile producing apparatus, particularly knitting machines.

In a knitting machine, the supply of yarn is in the -form of a plurality of yarn cones with the yarn being drawn from the cone by the needles. As yarn is drawn off the cone, it undergoes substantial variations in tension due to the manner in which the yarn package is formed on the cone and unwound therefrom. Furthermore, the yarn supplied from any one cone is likely to be under different tension from that supplied to the needles at the same time from any of the other cones, resulting in the production of goods which are nonuniform, inferior in quality, and often considered as being defective. Efforts have previously been made to resolve the problems pointed out above by providing an intermediate yarn storage device disposed between the yarn cone and the needles. Examples of such storage device are shown in U. S. Pat. Nos. 3,225,446 and 3,419,225, each of which discloses the use of a drum of substantially uniform diameter which is rotated so as to tangentially wind a predetermined quantity of yarn thereon, which yarn is subsequently withdrawn axially from the drum. In this way all of the yarn from the cone is rewound around the uniform diameter storage drum and, being withdrawn axially from the drum, the tension of the yarn is reduced to as near zero as possible, with the same conditions simultaneously prevailing in all other yarns axially withdrawn, each from its own storage drum.

While said prior art storage devices constitute substantial improvement, they are not entirely free of deficiencies. More specifically, while the yarn tension condition has been measurably improved by the tangential winding about the rotating drum and axial withdrawing therefrom, new problems have arisen which contribute to the production of less than wholly uniform goods. This is due to the fact that the conditions under which the yarn is wound onto and unwound from the storage feeder during the knitting process are continuously varying. For example, under one condition, the yarn is rate that the yarn is withdrawn, in which case there is no twist imparted to the yarn. Under another condition, the yarn is withdrawn from the storage drum at a slower rate than that at which it is wound onto the storage drum, and in such condition, there is a twist imparted to the yarn in one direction. Under yet another condition, there may be yarn withdrawn axially from the storage drum when the latter is not rotating or rotating at a speed which causes the yarn to be wound onto the drum at a slower rate than that at which it is withdrawn, and in this condition there is a twist imparted to the yarn in the opposite direction. Since during the knitting process these three conditions occur repeatedly, each yarn is fed at times with no twist, twist in one direction, or twist in the opposite direction, again causing the production of goods which fall short of being entirely uniform.

Another drawback of prior art storage feeders is that a relatively large motor is required since the motor drives the storage drum whose mass is not unsubstantial.

wound on the rotating storage drum at the same exact FIG. 1;

The prior art storage feeders have also proved to be less than entirely workable in other respects, including the manner in which the quantity of yarn wound onto the drum is controlled, the manner in which the rotational power for winding the yarn onto the drum is provided, as well as the presence of other deficiencies which affect the performance and cost thereof.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the invention, there is provided a yarn storage feeder which is void of the deficiencies pointed out above and which is genrally a greatly improved storage feeder both in effectiveness and quality of performance and cost of manufacture.

In accordance. with the invention, the yarn from the supply cone is tangentially wound onto a storage drum by providing a yarn guide which rotates about the storage drum while the latter is prevented from undergoing any significant rotation.

By so winding the yarn onto the drum, there is deliberately imparted to the yarn stored on the drum a certain amount of twist. Since the yarn, however, is always axially withdrawn from the drum while the latter is substantially stationary, the identical amount of twist, in the opposite direction, is imparted to the yarn during the withdrawal for a net effect of zero twist and such condition prevails throughout the knitting process.

Further, in accordance with the invention there is provided a novel way of supporting the storage drum relative to the yarn winding means to provide for a more compact overall construction.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of time delay means, which may be electrical, mechanical or thermal, for selectively controlling the quantity of yarn to be stored on the drum. I

Another feature of the invention is the provision of novel and improved means for mounting the storage drum in a manner which prevents significant rotation thereof while at the same time providing a balanced device.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of means for winding the yarn about the storage drum wherein the threading of the yarn is greatly simplified.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a storage feeder in accordance with one embodiment .of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along lines 2-2 of FIG. 3 is a left side view thereof;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary front elevational view thereof;

FIG. 5 is a schematic showing of an electrical circuit for controlling the maximum quantity of yarn stored on the drum;

FIG. 6a is a sectional view, in elevation, of the feeler assembly in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 6b is a top plan view thereof;

FIG. 60 is a sectional view taken along lines 6c-6c of FIG. 6a;

FIG. 7 is a front elevational view of another embodiment in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary view, in perspective, illustrating the operation of the embodiment of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is an elevational perspective view of yet another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 10 is a right side view thereof;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken along lines 1l-ll of FIG.

FIG. 12 is a front elevational view showing a modification of the embodiment of FIG. 9;

FIG. 13 is a side elevational view, with parts removed, showing yet another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 14 is a sectional view taken along lines 14-14 of FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a view similar to FIG. 11 showing yet another modification in accordance with the invention; and

FIG. 16 is a right side elevational view thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In the form of the invention shown in FIGS. 1 through 4, there is shown a drive motor 10 suitably supported as by frame member 12 and provided with a hollow shaft 14 whose extension 16 supports drum 18 by means of ball bearings 20. A hollow winding arm 22 is affixed to hollow shaft 14 and extends radially thereof between drum 18 and motor 10, said winding arm 22 terminating in an offset portion 24. Extending radially of shaft 14 and diametrically opposite to winding arm 22 is an extension arm 26 movably mounting a counterweight 28 which is adjustably securable along arm 26 by means of set screw 30. The hollow passages in shaft 14 and winding arm 22 communicate with each other whereby yarn 32 from a supply cone travels in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 1 through hollow shaft 14 and winding arm 22 exiting therefrom at the free end of offset portion 24 through a porcelain guide 34.

Drum 18 is of uniform diameter and terminates into a generally conical section 36. Winding arm 22 and its offset portion 24 are positioned with respect to drum 18 so that the yarn discharged through the winding arm, upon rotation thereof, is wound upon the conical section 36 whereby the turns wound onto the drum gradually move towards the free end of the drum as the winding continues. The yarn is axially withdrawn from the drum and through yarn guide 38 by the pull exerted by the needles.

In order to prevent the drum from having any significant rotation, the drum is eccentrically supported on shaft 14 so that the center of gravity thereof is below the axis about which the drum would normally be free to rotate. The drum can also be weighted as shown at 40 to further reduce the tendency of the drum to rotate about shaft 14 during the winding of yarn about the drum.

In order to control the minimum and maximum quantity of yarn to be stored on the storage drum, there is provided a feeler 42 resiliently urged against the storage drum 18 with which it defines a switch which is closed when the feeler is in contact with the periphery of the drum and which is open when the feeler is insulated from the drum by the yarn. The position of feller 42 at the point where it engages the surface of drum 18 is shown in FIG. 2 in which position the switch defined by the feeler and the storage drum is closed.

The operation of the switch defined by feeler 42 and storage drum 18 is shown in circuit diagram, FIG. 5. In accordance with this circuit, the closing of switch 42-18 provides current flow from positive terminal of DC supply 44 which is grounded, to the storage drum 18 which is equally grounded, through feeler 42, limiting resistor 46, charging condenser 48, and back to negative terminal of DC supply 44. There is also a current path established through resistor 50, the triggering leg of transistor amplifier 52, and back to the negative terminal of DC supply 44. Such current flow through the triggering circuit of transistor amplifier 52 renders the latter conductive with current flow as follows: from grounded positive terminal of DC supply 44, to grounded terminal of relay 54, through transistor amplifier 52, and back to negative terminal of the DC supply. The resulting energization of relay 54 closes a pair of contacts 56 to energize motor 10 whereby winding arm 22 rotates about the drum to provide additional yarn thereon. The winding of additional yarn onto the drum will separate feeler 42 from engagement with the drum to thereby open switch 42-18. This, however, will not immediately interrupt the conductivity of transistor amplifier 52 since the charge on condenser 48 will discharge into the triggering circuit of transistor amplifier 52 to maintain current flow therethrough and through relay 54 for a predetermined period of time during which the motor will remain energized and the winding arm will continue to wind. Thus, the circuit in FIG. 5 defines a time delay which determines the amount of yarn to be wound onto the drum following the separation of feeler 42 from the drum. Accordingly, the use of feeler 42 in cooperation with the time delay circuit of FIG. 5 defines with great precision the minimum and maximum quantities of yarn provided on the drum at all times. Variable resistor 58 provides an alternate path for the discharge of condenser 48 whereby the time delay can be adjusted as may be desired. The use of this arrangement provides for much greater control and flexibility in the utilization of the storage feeder. FIG. 4 shows the condition of the storage feeder upon expiration of the time delay, in which condition a predetermined maximum amount of yarn has been stored on drum 18.

While FIG. 5 illustrates an electronic timedelay circuit for selectively controlling the amount of yarn wound onto the drum, such time delay can be obtained, within the scope of this invention, by othertypes of electrical or electronic circuits, as well as by mechanical or thermal means, all of which can provide a selective and adjustable time delay for the aforementioned purposes.

Feeler 42 is supported in operative position by feeler assembly 60 best shown with cover 62 thereof removed in FIGS. 6a, b and c. Feeler 42 comprises a wire formed into a pair of legs 64 joined together to define a V, which legs are bent back as at junctions 66 and terminate into inwardly extending arms 68. Support bracket 70 is notched as at 72 to receive therein feeler junctions 66 for pivotally mounting feeler 42. Arms 68 are retained in the hook shaped free ends 74 of the legs 76 of interconnecting member 78 whose opposite hooked end 80 retains one end of a spring 82. The other end of spring 82 is connected to a plunger 84 adapted for frictional sliding movement within bushing 86 for adjusting the tension of spring 82. Under this arrange-- ment, feeler 42 is biased by spring 82 against drum 18. Due to the aforedescribed configuration of feeler42 and its support in notches 72, there is formed an angle 87 ranging from 20 to 30 between the plane defined by legs 64 and the confronting surface of the drum. This range has been found to be most suitable for enabling feeler 42 to yield to the axially moving windings of yarn on the drum during the winding operation, thus preventing bunching up of the yarn against the feeler, during the winding sequence. As shown in FIG. 1, feeler supporting assembly may be mounted for slidable movement with respect to a rod 88 which forms part of or is secured to the basic frame for the storage feeder. Such arrangement makes it possible to move the feeler 42 axially in order to adjustably select the minimum quantity of yarn desirable to be maintained on the storage feeder. No matter where the feeler is located, the maximum amount of yarn stored on the drum will be controlled solely by the time delay, without regard to the feeler position. Since the time delay is also adjustable, it will be evident that the arrangement in accordance with the invention permits great flexibility with little difficulty or inconvenience.

While feeler 42 has been described as cooperating with the exposed surface of the drum for defining an electrical switch, it is within the scope of the invention to provide a switching arrangement which does not include the drum. More specifically, it is within the scope of this invention to provide a ground contact internally of assembly 60 which will be engaged in response to the movement of feeler 42 due to the removal of the yarn between said feeler and the drum. In accordance with such modification, the grounded contact 18 schematically shown in FIG. 5 would be the contact located internally of assembly 60 and engaged in response to the movement of feeler 42.

Referring now to FIGS. 7 and 8, there is shown another embodiment of the invention wherein the storage drum upon which the yarn is wound is-held in absolutely fixed and stationary condition during the entire operation thereof. In FIG. 7, as in the embodiment of FIGS. 1-4, there is provided a drive motor 90 suitably supported by frame member 92 and provided with a hollow shaft 94 whose extension 96 supports drum 98 by means of ball bearings 100. Hollow winding arm 102 affixed to hollow shaft 94 extends radially thereof between drum 98 and motor 90, said winding arm 102 terminating in offset portion 104 which overhangs the conical portion 106 of the drum, for the reasons previously described. Extending radially of hollow shaft 94 and opposite to winding arm 102 is an extension arm 108 which rotatably supports on ball bearings 109 adjacent the end thereof a through shaft 1 carrying at the opposite ends thereof identical gears 112 and 114,,respectively. Motor 90 and drum 98 have secured thereto identical confronting gears 116 and 118 which are in mesh, respectively, with gears 112 and 114 carried by extension arm 108. Gear 118, being secured to motor 90 is stationary with respect to frame 92. Accordingly, as winding arm 102 rotates in response to the rotation of drive motor 90, for winding yarn onto the storage drum, gear 114 in mesh with stationary gear 118 will orbit thereabout, as will gear 112 orbit about gear 116 whose condition must necessarily be identical to the condition of gear 118, namely, an absolutely stationary condition. Control of the minimum and maximum quantities of yarn in the storage device of FIGS. 7 and 8 is obtained in the same manner as described in connection with the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 4, namely, by the use of a feeler 42 supported by feeler assembly 60 and associated with time delay means such as described in FIG. 5.

In each embodiment aforedescribed, namely, that shown in FIGS. 1 through 4, and that shown in FIGS.

7 and 8, the winding arm is carried by the hollow shaft of the motor, which shaft has an extension for supporting the drum upon which the yarn is wound for storage purposes. Such arrangement requires the drive motor to be positioned in particular relation to the in threading and also creates certain difficulties inthreading the yarn through the hollow shaft and the hollow winding arm. These limitations are eliminated in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 9 through 11. In such embodiment, the storage drum 120 is supported by means of ball bearings 122 on a solid shaft 124 which has affixed thereto a disk or gear 126, externally toothed as at 128. Apertured support plates and 132 mount therebetween a pair of idler gears 134 and 136, the shaft of gear 134 being supported by ball bearings 138 and 140, and the shaft of gear 136 being similarly supported by ball bearings in plates 130 and 132. Both idler gears 134 and 136 are in mesh with disk 126 to support the latter during rotation thereof by driving pinion gear 142 in driving engagement with disk 126 at the upper portion thereof. Pinion 142 is supported between plates 130 and 132 for rotation by drive motor 144. Accordingly, energization of drive motor 144 causes rotation of pinion 142 which in turn drives disk 126. Rotation of disk 126, however, does not cause any significant rotation of storage drum 120 which is supported on ball bearings 122 and weighted as at 146. As best shown in FIG. 10, disk 126 is apertured as at 148 and provided with a tubular yarn guide 150 which extends over the conical portion 152 of the storage drum. Central apertures 154 and 156 of support members 130 and 132, respectively, are sufficiently large to provide clearance for yarn guide 150 and the yarn passing therethrough.

In this embodiment, it will be readily seen that rotation of disk 126 will result in the winding of the yarn passing through guide 150 onto storage drum 120. As in previous embodiments, the maximum and minimum quantities of yarn stored on the drum are controlled by feeler 42 carried by feeler assembly 60 and associated with the time delay circuitry of FIG. 5. It is evident from FIGS. 8 through 10 that this embodimet avoids the difficulty presented by utilizing a hollow shafted motor for driving the winding arm and for supporting the storage drum. Further, since yarn guide 150 is short and easily accessible, there is no difficulty whatsoever in threading the yarn through the storage device.

FIG. 12 illustrates a modification of the embodiment of FIGS. 9 through 11 wherein the. two support plates are substituted by an enclosed housing 158, and driving pinion 142 is driven by a pulley 160 which is itself belt driven by a motor 162 at a remote location.

In yet another embodiment shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the storage drum 164 is provided with an inner race 166 which cooperates with outer race 168 on annular member 170 and roller balls 172 therebetween, whereby said annular member. is rotatable about the drum. Annular member 170 is externally toothed as at 174 and supported between support plates 130 and 132 'in a manner identical to that shown in FIG. 11. Thus,

there are provided supporting idler gears 134 and 136 and driving pinion gear 142, as well as a tubular yarn guide 175 on annular member 170 through which the yarn passes prior to its being wound about storage drum 164. The storage drum is duly weighted as at 176 to prevent significant rotation thereof while annular member 170 rotates during the winding operation.

Feeler 42 mounted on feeler assembly 60 cooperates with the storage device of FIGS. 13 and 14 to control the minimum and maximum quantities of yarn to be stored on the drum.

In accordance with this embodiment, therefore, there is eliminated the need of any kind of supporting shaft for the storage drum thereby enabling a more compact overall arrangement of the various components forming part of the storage feeder.

Referring now to FIGS. 15 and 16, there is shown therein a modified version of the storage feeder shown in FIG. 11. In accordance with such modification, the storage drum 178 is carried directly by solid shaft 180. Disk 182, the functional equivalent of disk 126 in FIG. 10, is mounted on shaft 180 by means of ball bearings 184, to provide, as required, relative rotation between disk 182 and drum 178. Solid shaft 180 is provided with downwardly extending counterweight 186 one of whose functions is to prevent any substantial rotation of drum 178, whereby unlike the previous embodiments, there is no need to weight the storage drum itself. By providing counterweight 186 on the opposite side of disk 182, the counterweight has the further function of defining a torque which offsets the opposite torque created by the storage drum 178 and it will be understood that the configuration and density of counterweight 186 is such as to provide as accurate a balancing torque as desired to render the entire unit more stable.

While we have herein shown and described the preferred embodiments of our invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise than as herein specifically illustrated or described, and that in the illustrated embodiments certain changes in the details of construction and in the form and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the underlying idea or principles of this invention within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim and desire to secure by letters patent is:

1. A device for feeding yarn from a supply thereof to a textile producing machine comprising,

a. a drum,

b. means for winding said yarn tangentially about said drum,

c means detecting a selectively predetermined quantity of yarn wound onto said drum, and

d. means responsive to the activation of said detecting means for selectively controlling the operation of said yarn winding means, whereby a quantity of yarn within a selectively predetermined range is stored on said drum for use by said textile producing machine,

c. said means for winding said yarn comprising a disk supported for rotation by idler means rotatably mounted on frame means, said disk having a shaft I ond position in which said feeler is displaced from said engagement by yarn wound onto the drum.

3. A device in accordance with claim 2, wherein said controlling means are operative to activate said yarn winding means when said feeler is in said first position and to maintain the activation of said yarn winding means for a selective predetermined period of time following the assumption by said feeler of said second position thereof.

4. A device in accordance with claim 2, wherein said feeler comprises a smooth wire member having a V- shaped end defining a plane forming an angle of less than 45 with the axis of the drum.

5. A device in accordance with claim 2, said feeler being movable axially of the drum whereby to adjustably control the quantity of yarn on the drum at the time said feeler moves to said second position thereof.

6. A device in accordance with claim 3, said feeler being movable axially of the drum whereby to adjustably control the quantity of yarn on the drum at the time said feeler moves to said second position thereof.

7. A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said disk is externally toothed and said idler means comprise idler gears in mesh with said disk for rotatingly supporting the latter, and power driven pinion gear means in mesh with said disk for the driving thereof.

8. A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said shaft terminates at the other end thereof in a weighted offset portion which prevents significant rotation of the drum and defines a balancing torque therefor.

9. A device for feeding yarn from a supply thereof to a textile producing machine comprising,

a. a drum,

b. means for winding said yarn tangentially about said drum,

c. means detecting a selectively predetermined quantity of yarn wound onto, said drum, and

d. means responsive to the activation of said detecting means for selectively controlling the operation of said yarn winding means, whereby a quantity of yarn within a selectively predetermined range is stored on said drum-for use by said textile producing machine, 1

e. said means for winding said yarn comprising an annular member supported for rotation by idler means rotatably mounted on frame means, said annular member having a central aperture for rotatably supporting said drum therewithin, said annular member having an opening whereby yarn fed therethrough is wound onto the drum upon rotation of the annular member.

10. A device in accordance with claim 9, wherein said annular member is externally toothed and said idler means comprise idler gears in mesh with said annular member for rotatingly supporting the latter, and power driven pinion gear means in mesh with said annular member for the driving thereof.

11. A device in accordance with claim 9, wherein said detecting means comprise a feeler biased against said drum and movable between a first position in which said feeler is in engagement with said drum and a second position in which said feeler is displaced from said engagement by yarn wound onto the drum.

12. A device in accordance with claim 11, wherein said controlling means are operative to activate said yarn winding means when said feeler is in said first position and to maintain the activation of said yarn winding means for a selective predetermined period of time following the assumption by said feeler of said second position thereof.

13. A device in accordance with claim 11, wherein said feeler comprises a smooth wire member having a V-shaped end defining a plane forming an angle of less than 45 with the axis of the drum.

14. A device in accordance with claim 11, said feeler being movable axially of the drum whereby to adjustably control the quantity of yarn on the drum at the time said feeler moves to said second position thereof.

15. A device in accordance with claim 12, said feeler being movable axially of the drum whereby to adjustably control the quantity of yarn on the drum at the time said feeler moves to said second position thereof.

16. A device for feeding yarn from a supply thereof to a textile producing machine comprising,

, a. a drum,

b. means for winding said yarn tangentially about said drum,

c. means detecting a selectively predetermined quantity of yarn wound onto said drum, and

d. means responsive to the activation of said detecting means for selectively controlling the operation of said yarn winding means, whereby a quantity of yarn within a selectively predetermined range is stored on said drum for use by said textile producing machine.

e. said detecting means comprising a feeler biased against said drum and movable between a first position in which said feeler is in engagement with said drum and a second position in which said feeler is displaced from said engagement by yarn wound onto the drum, said controlling means being operative to activate said yarn winding means when said feeler is in said first position and to maintain the activation of said yarn winding means for a predetermined period of time following the assumption by said feeler of said second position thereof.

17. A device in accordance with claim 16, wherein said winding means orbit about said drum and wherein said drum is prevented from having substantial rotation.

18. A device in accordance with claim 16, said feeler being movable axially of the drum whereby to adjustably control the quantity of yarn on the drum at the time said feeler moves to said second position thereof.

19. A device in accordance with claim 18, wherein said winding means orbit about'said drum and wherein said drum is prevented from having substantial rotation.

20. A device in accordance with claim 16, wherein said drum is supported by bearings on a hollow rotatable shaft and wherein said winding means comprise an arm secured to said shaft and having a passage therethrough communicating with the passage through said hollow shaft whereby yarn fed through said shaft and arm is wound about said drum upon rotation of said shaft.

21. A device in accordance with claim 16, wherein said controlling means comprise an electrical network having an adjustable time delay circuit, said electrical network being operative to de-energize drive means for. the yarn winding means when said feeler is in said first position, and being operative, when said feeler assumes said second position, to de-energize said drive means after a predetermined adjustable time delay.

22. A device for feeding yarn from a supply thereof to a textile producing machine comprising,

a. a drum,

b. means for winding said yarn tangentially about said drum,

c. means detecting a selectively predetermined quantity of yarn wound onto said drum, and

d. means responsive to the activation of said detecting means for selectively controlling the operation of said yarn winding means, whereby a quantity of yarn within a selectively predetermined range is stored on said drum for use by said textile producing machine,

e. said detecting means comprising a feeler biased against said drum and movable between a first position in which said feeler is in engagement with said drum and a second position in which said feeler is displaced from said engagement by yarn wound onto the drum,

f. said feeler comprising a smooth wire member having a V-shaped end defining a plane forming an angle of less than 45 with the axis of the drum.

23. A device for feeding yarn from a supply thereof to a textile producing machine comprising,

a. a drum,

b. means for winding said yarn tangentially about said drum,

c. means detecting a selectively predetermined quantity of yarn wound onto said drum, and

(1. means responsive to the activation of said detecting means for selectively controlling the operation of said yarn winding means, whereby a quantity of yarn within a selectively predetermined range is stored on said drum for use by said textile producing machine,

. said detecting means comprising a feeler biased against said drum and movable between a first position in which said feeler is in engagement with said drum and a second position in which said feeler is displaced from said engagement by yarn wound onto the drum,

f. said feeler being movable axially of the drum whereby to adjustably control the quantity of yarn on the drum at the time said feeler moves to said second position thereof.

24. A device for feeding yarn from a supply thereof to a textile producing machine comprising,

a. a drum,

b. means for winding said yarn tangentially about said drum, for forming on said drum a single layer of adjacently contiguous windings which advances axially of the drum,

c. means detecting a selectively predetermined quantity of yarn wound onto said drum, and v d. means responsive to the activation of said detecting means for selectively controlling the operation of said yarn winding means, whereby a quantity of yarn within a selectively predetermined range is stored on said drum for use by said textile producing machine,

e. said detecting means comprising a feeler biased against said drum and movable between a first position in which said feeler is in engagement with said drum and a second position in which said feeler is displaced from said engagement with said drum by said advancing single layer of yarn wound onto the drum. 

1. A device for feeding yarn from a supply thereof to a textile producing machine comprisIng, a. a drum, b. means for winding said yarn tangentially about said drum, c. means detecting a selectively predetermined quantity of yarn wound onto said drum, and d. means responsive to the activation of said detecting means for selectively controlling the operation of said yarn winding means, whereby a quantity of yarn within a selectively predetermined range is stored on said drum for use by said textile producing machine, e. said means for winding said yarn comprising a disk supported for rotation by idler means rotatably mounted on frame means, said disk having a shaft which supports at one end thereof said drum for relative rotation of said disk with respect to said drum, and said disk having an aperture whereby yarn fed therethrough is wound onto the drum upon rotation of the disk.
 2. A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said detecting means comprise a feeler biased against said drum and movable between a first position in which said feeler is in engagement with said drum and a second position in which said feeler is displaced from said engagement by yarn wound onto the drum.
 3. A device in accordance with claim 2, wherein said controlling means are operative to activate said yarn winding means when said feeler is in said first position and to maintain the activation of said yarn winding means for a selective predetermined period of time following the assumption by said feeler of said second position thereof.
 4. A device in accordance with claim 2, wherein said feeler comprises a smooth wire member having a V-shaped end defining a plane forming an angle of less than 45* with the axis of the drum.
 5. A device in accordance with claim 2, said feeler being movable axially of the drum whereby to adjustably control the quantity of yarn on the drum at the time said feeler moves to said second position thereof.
 6. A device in accordance with claim 3, said feeler being movable axially of the drum whereby to adjustably control the quantity of yarn on the drum at the time said feeler moves to said second position thereof.
 7. A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said disk is externally toothed and said idler means comprise idler gears in mesh with said disk for rotatingly supporting the latter, and power driven pinion gear means in mesh with said disk for the driving thereof.
 8. A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said shaft terminates at the other end thereof in a weighted offset portion which prevents significant rotation of the drum and defines a balancing torque therefor.
 9. A device for feeding yarn from a supply thereof to a textile producing machine comprising, a. a drum, b. means for winding said yarn tangentially about said drum, c. means detecting a selectively predetermined quantity of yarn wound onto said drum, and d. means responsive to the activation of said detecting means for selectively controlling the operation of said yarn winding means, whereby a quantity of yarn within a selectively predetermined range is stored on said drum for use by said textile producing machine, e. said means for winding said yarn comprising an annular member supported for rotation by idler means rotatably mounted on frame means, said annular member having a central aperture for rotatably supporting said drum therewithin, said annular member having an opening whereby yarn fed therethrough is wound onto the drum upon rotation of the annular member.
 10. A device in accordance with claim 9, wherein said annular member is externally toothed and said idler means comprise idler gears in mesh with said annular member for rotatingly supporting the latter, and power driven pinion gear means in mesh with said annular member for the driving thereof.
 11. A device in accordance with claim 9, wherein said detecting means comprise a feeler biased against said drum and movable between a first position in which said feeler is in engagement with said drum and a second position in which said feeler is displaced from said engagement by yarn wound onto the drum.
 12. A device in accordance with claim 11, wherein said controlling means are operative to activate said yarn winding means when said feeler is in said first position and to maintain the activation of said yarn winding means for a selective predetermined period of time following the assumption by said feeler of said second position thereof.
 13. A device in accordance with claim 11, wherein said feeler comprises a smooth wire member having a V-shaped end defining a plane forming an angle of less than 45* with the axis of the drum.
 14. A device in accordance with claim 11, said feeler being movable axially of the drum whereby to adjustably control the quantity of yarn on the drum at the time said feeler moves to said second position thereof.
 15. A device in accordance with claim 12, said feeler being movable axially of the drum whereby to adjustably control the quantity of yarn on the drum at the time said feeler moves to said second position thereof.
 16. A device for feeding yarn from a supply thereof to a textile producing machine comprising, a. a drum, b. means for winding said yarn tangentially about said drum, c. means detecting a selectively predetermined quantity of yarn wound onto said drum, and d. means responsive to the activation of said detecting means for selectively controlling the operation of said yarn winding means, whereby a quantity of yarn within a selectively predetermined range is stored on said drum for use by said textile producing machine. e. said detecting means comprising a feeler biased against said drum and movable between a first position in which said feeler is in engagement with said drum and a second position in which said feeler is displaced from said engagement by yarn wound onto the drum, f. said controlling means being operative to activate said yarn winding means when said feeler is in said first position and to maintain the activation of said yarn winding means for a predetermined period of time following the assumption by said feeler of said second position thereof.
 17. A device in accordance with claim 16, wherein said winding means orbit about said drum and wherein said drum is prevented from having substantial rotation.
 18. A device in accordance with claim 16, said feeler being movable axially of the drum whereby to adjustably control the quantity of yarn on the drum at the time said feeler moves to said second position thereof.
 19. A device in accordance with claim 18, wherein said winding means orbit about said drum and wherein said drum is prevented from having substantial rotation.
 20. A device in accordance with claim 16, wherein said drum is supported by bearings on a hollow rotatable shaft and wherein said winding means comprise an arm secured to said shaft and having a passage therethrough communicating with the passage through said hollow shaft whereby yarn fed through said shaft and arm is wound about said drum upon rotation of said shaft.
 21. A device in accordance with claim 16, wherein said controlling means comprise an electrical network having an adjustable time delay circuit, said electrical network being operative to de-energize drive means for the yarn winding means when said feeler is in said first position, and being operative, when said feeler assumes said second position, to de-energize said drive means after a predetermined adjustable time delay.
 22. A device for feeding yarn from a supply thereof to a textile producing machine comprising, a. a drum, b. means for winding said yarn tangentially about said drum, c. means detecting a selectively predetermined quantity of yarn wound onto said drum, and d. means responsive to the activation of said detecting means for selectively controlling the operation of said yarn winding means, whereby a quantity of yarn within a selectively predetermined range is stored on said drum for use by said textile prOducing machine, e. said detecting means comprising a feeler biased against said drum and movable between a first position in which said feeler is in engagement with said drum and a second position in which said feeler is displaced from said engagement by yarn wound onto the drum, f. said feeler comprising a smooth wire member having a V-shaped end defining a plane forming an angle of less than 45* with the axis of the drum.
 23. A device for feeding yarn from a supply thereof to a textile producing machine comprising, a. a drum, b. means for winding said yarn tangentially about said drum, c. means detecting a selectively predetermined quantity of yarn wound onto said drum, and d. means responsive to the activation of said detecting means for selectively controlling the operation of said yarn winding means, whereby a quantity of yarn within a selectively predetermined range is stored on said drum for use by said textile producing machine, e. said detecting means comprising a feeler biased against said drum and movable between a first position in which said feeler is in engagement with said drum and a second position in which said feeler is displaced from said engagement by yarn wound onto the drum, f. said feeler being movable axially of the drum whereby to adjustably control the quantity of yarn on the drum at the time said feeler moves to said second position thereof.
 24. A device for feeding yarn from a supply thereof to a textile producing machine comprising, a. a drum, b. means for winding said yarn tangentially about said drum, for forming on said drum a single layer of adjacently contiguous windings which advances axially of the drum, c. means detecting a selectively predetermined quantity of yarn wound onto said drum, and d. means responsive to the activation of said detecting means for selectively controlling the operation of said yarn winding means, whereby a quantity of yarn within a selectively predetermined range is stored on said drum for use by said textile producing machine, e. said detecting means comprising a feeler biased against said drum and movable between a first position in which said feeler is in engagement with said drum and a second position in which said feeler is displaced from said engagement with said drum by said advancing single layer of yarn wound onto the drum. 